Nettles.

Hi, Could anyone advise please. We have bought some shrubs from a local grower, he is very good speaks a little english so with our limited french we are usually O.K. He said he never uses chemicals on his plants just nettles soaked in water and then poured over the plants, is this a feed or for pests? Also something called savon noir (black soap), anyone know what this is and its use?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

The nettle liquid will be used as feed. As for the other part of your question, haven't a clue...sorry.:thumb:

 

I know you can use nettles soaked in water as a plant food, had a look around and found an article -
http://www.nettles.org.uk/nettles/activities/nettlemanure.asp

 

Hi Janet,

I haven't heard of it being used in the garden wow-but it is in some detergents-and I think it is primarily a eco-soap of some kind.

Even weirder it is in some french cosmetics as well.

Regards

 

Thank you for your replies, when I find out about Savon Noir, I will post here :thumb:, you might find it of interest.

 

I've heard of it being used as a liquid feed along with comfrey plants. Put 2lbs of nettles in a gallon of water and leave for a month then use the liquid diluted 1 part to 10 water.

 

I think that Savon Noir is just a traditional black soap. It is made with olive paste, not made for gardening in particular!

 

Hi Janet

The Savon Noir is, as midnightrose said, a soap that is made with vegetable oil. A UK equivalent is Castile Soap, which is made from vetable oil usually olive oil.

It can be mixed with water and is quite effective at controlling aphids.

If your interested I've got a hub page on natural pesticides.
http://hubpages.com/hub/natural-pesticide-recipes

Wikipedia Page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castile_soap

A Castile Soap
http://www.best4price.co.uk/product.php?p=13893024

Paul

 

Nettle feed is a good feed, I don't know what the other one is but you can use soapy water or steeped rhubarb leaves for pests. Someone I know used to use steeped cigarette dimps, and swore by it.